Diatreme Resources is among the mining and exploration companies impacted by restrictions on entry to Cape York and Gulf Indigenous communities as COVID-19 measures increase.

The company plans to develop a new silica mine at its Galalar project, about 200km north of Cairns, in partnership with the traditional owners, Hopevale Congress.

Only last month Diatreme Resources boosted the resource estimate for its Galalar silica sand project by 26 per cent to 38 million tonnes after drilling and testing. (More HERE)

Chief executive officer Neil McIntyre said this week the new restrictions may affect the project timeline.

“Diatreme’s first concern is for the health and wellbeing of the communities in which it operates, including Hopevale. We are adhering to government health recommendations concerning the coronavirus,” he said. 

“Concerning our Galalar silica project, our exploration activities have not been impacted at this stage as the project’s mineral resource has been well defined by previous exploration.

“However, what will be affected is our community consultation program at Hopevale, given that such meetings are currently precluded due to the lockdowns.

“In the short term we are able to plan around these issues, however project implementation could be affected if the current situation continues for longer than anticipated.”

Indigenous council areas across the Cape York and Gulf region are limiting visitor access to those providing essential services due to the vulnerable nature of local populations and limited access to health care.

New Century Resources is another company with many links to communities affected by travel restrictions, but head of corporate affairs and social responsibility Shane Goodwin said they were not affecting the zinc producer’s operations.

“On site, we have some administrative processes in place to minimise the risk of a COVID-19 case entering the site, and some isolation measures in case a person begins showing symptoms while on site,” he said.

“From a community engagement perspective, we are not visiting those communities (Doomadgee, Mornington island and Burketown) as we normally would however, our Community Liaison Officer is engaging key stakeholders via telephone regularly.”